Device for cleaning, polishing and beating



Dec. 26, 1961 J. FASSIO 3,014,229

DEVICE FOR CLEANING, POLISHING AND BEATING Filed Oct. 21, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 1 FllEi J.

INVENTOR. JAM/us 5755/0 ATTORNEYS Dec. 26, 1961 J. FASSIO 3,014,229

DEVICE FOR CLEANING, POLISHING AND BEATING Filed 001;. 21, 195'? 2Sheets-Sheet 2 F'IE E lNVENTOR. Ju/fus fss/o ATTORNEYJ 3,014,229 DEVICEFGR CLEAN G, POLISHING AND BEATING Julius Fassio, 1135 Francisco St.,San Francisco, Calif. Filed Oct. 21, 1957, Ser. No. 691,277 2 Claims.(Cl. 1597) This invention relates to a device for cleaning, polishingand beating.

One of the more laborious tasks in the home is the cleaning of pots andpans. This often must be done by hand because they generally cannot besuitably cleaned in mechanical dishwashers. There is a demand for adevice which will facilitate the cleaning of pots and pans which canalso be used for other purposes.

In general, it is an object of the present invention to provide a devicefor cleaning and polishing pots and pans and which can be used for otherhousehold purposes such as beating, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter which is mounted in such a manner that it can be placed in anout-of-the-way position when not in use and still be readily accessible.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter which can be operated with both hands free.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter in which the same drive means can be used for operatingdiflierent attachments.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter in which the attachments are readily removable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter in which the coverings for the scouring or cleaningattachments can be readily changed.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device of the abovecharacter in which the scouring or cleaning attachment is substantiallyimpervious to liquids and, therefore, will not become foul smelling whenused for such operations as cleaning pots and pans.

Additional objects and features of the invention will appear from thefollowing description in which the preferred embodiment has been setforth in detail in conjunction with the accompanying drawing.

Referring to the drawing:

FIGURE 1 is a front elevational view of a conventional household sinkupon which a device incorporating my invention is mounted;

FIGURE 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged view, partly in cross-section, showing a portionof the drive means and the scrubbing attachment mounted thereon;

FIGURE 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line 44 of FIGURE 3;and

FIGURE S-is a view, partly in cross section, showing a portion of thedrive means and a beating attachment mounted thereon.

The device incorporating my invention and illustrated in FIGURES 1through 4 of the drawing is comprised of drive means 11 and a cleaningor scouring attachment 12. The drive means consists of an electric motor13 of any suitable type such as one operated on 110 volts AC. and havingan output shaft speed of approximately 3600 rpm. The electric motor ismounted within the cabinet 14 in any suitable manner such as bysuspending it in the cabinet as shown.

The cabinet contains a sink 16 and is provided with a front door 17 toprovide access to the electric motor 13 and other parts of the sink. Theelectric motor drives a flexible cable 18 which is mounted in a flexibleconduit 3,014,229 Patented Dec. 26, 1961 ice l9 and is connected to aspeed reducer 21. The speed reducer may be of any suitable type whichwill reduce the speed. It is, however, desirable that the speed reducerreduce the speed of the cable to the desired speed such as fromapproximately 3600 r.p.m. to a speed of approximately 600 r.p.m. Thespeed reducer unit, as shown, includes a housing 22 which is providedwith a cylindrical extension 23. The cylindrical extension serves as ahand grip as hereinafter described. The output shaft of the speedreducer extends through an extension22a of the housing and is connectedto a connecting member 26. The connecting member consists of acylindrical threaded portion 26a and a flange 28. The flange 28 has adiameter substantially greater than the diameter of the threaded portion26a and, therefore, the outer margins of the flange extend radially andbeyond the axis of rotation of the connecting member 26.

It is readily apparent that different types of attachments can bemounted on the connecting member 26. For example, one type of attachmentwhich is particularly useful is the cleaning or scouring attachment 12shown in FIGURES 1 to 4 of the drawing. As shown in the drawing, thecleaning or scouring attachment 12 consists of a hard core 31 ofsuitable material such as aluminum which is provided with a bore 32. Theouter end of the bore is threaded to accommodate the threaded portion26a of the connecting member 26. The core is preferably cylindrical-inshape and is covered with a thick layer 33 of a suitable resilientmaterial such as sponge rubber. Since certain resilient materials suchas sponge rubher are particularly absorbent, an additional relativelythin layer of relatively resilient yet impervious material covers theouter surface of the layer 33. Any suitable material may be used for thelayer 34 such as natural or synthetic rubber. As shown, the layer 34 isprovided with widely spaced ribs 36 which extend in directions at rightangles to the axis of rotation of the attachment member 12.

A suitable scrubbing or polishing element 37 is detachably mounted onthe exterior surface of the layer 34. As can be seen from the drawing,the scrubbing element is in the form of a cover and may be held in placeby suitable means such as by an elastic member 38 secured in a hem inthe inner margins of the cover defining the opening 39 through which thecover is mounted. The scrubbing element can be formed of any suitablematerial such as stainless steel -mesh or cloth impregnated with anabrasive.

A spring clamp 41 is mounted on the flexible conduit 19 for cable 18 andconsists of a collar 42 which is fastened to the conduit by suitablemeans such as a set screw 43. The collar is provided with a flange 44extending radially from the axis of the collar. Outwardlybowed spacedspring members 46 are mounted on the collar and extend longitudinally ofthe cable in a direction towards the speed reducing unit 21.

Means is provided for controlling the operation of the motor 13 andconsists of a cord 51 which has one end connected to a suitable poweroutlet as shown and the other end connected to a control unit 52.Another cord 53 leads from the control unit to the motor 13. The controlunit is of a type well known to those skilled in the art and includes afoot operated pedal 54 and a suitable rheostat 56 whereby the motor 13can be stopped and started by operation of the foot pedal 13 and thespeed of the motor controlled by varying the depression of the footpedal 54.

As shown in the drawing, the rear ledge 57 of the sink 16 is providedwith an opening 58 of a predeter- 3 for the speed reducer is such thatthe speed reducer can rest on the rear ledge of the sink.

Operation of my device may now be described briefly as follows: Let itbe assumed that the device is in the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 2and that it is desired to use the device for cleaning pots and pans inthe sink. The device is first grasped by the hand around the housing 22for the speed reducer and the speed reducer and the attachment connectedthereto is lifted from the sink until the spring members 46 are pulledthrough the hole 58 and the fiange 44 engages the lower surface of therear ledge 57. It is readily apparent that the outwardly-bowed springmembers 46 will now serve to prevent the cable from slipping back downthrough the hole 58 and pulling on the speed reducer.

In use, the device is grasped by one hand about the cylindricalextension 23 and the other hand is used for holding the pot during thecleaning operation. The foot pedal 54 is then operated to causeenergization of the motor and rotation of the scrubbing or cleaningattachment 12. As hereinbefore described, the speed of rotation of thescrubbing element is controlled by the amount of depression of the footpedal 54.

It is also readily apparent that rotation of the scrubbing element 22rapidly cleans and butts the pot or pan being cleaned. The scrubbingelement is chosen for the particular task undertaken. For example, ifpots are being cleaned, it is often desirable to use a stainless steelmesh. The stainless steel mesh readily removes food or burned particlesfrom the surface of the pot or pan. The impervious layer of material 34prevents the sponge rubber layer 33 from absorbing any food particlesand the like and, therefore, prevents the scrubbing element fromdecomposing or becoming foul smelling. The ribs 36 provided on theimpervious layer 34 firmly engage the scrubbing element on cover 37 sothat the scrubbing element of the cover will rotate with the remainderof the attachment.

After the pot has been cleaned, to rinse oil the scrubbing element toremove any food particles in the stainless steel mesh after which thedevice can be placed in its conventional out-of-the-way position bypressing of the cable to force the spring-like members 46 through theopening 58 down into the cabinet 14. After this has occurred, theremainder of the device can be lowered through the opening 58 until thehousing 22 of the speed reducer again rests upon the ledge 57.

If desired, it is readily apparent that instead of munting the deviceupon a sink, the device may be placed in a small cubical located abovethe sink with the foot control mounted on the floor in a convenientlocation.

It is readily apparent that the drive means 11 can be utilized inconjunction with any number of attachments. For example, as shown inFIGURE 5, it may be utilized for operating an egg beater attachment 61.The attachment, as shown, consists of a housing 62 which enclosessuitable gearing well known to those skilled in the art whereby rotationfrom an input shaft 63 may be transferred to two output shafts 64without an increase in the speed of rotation between the shaft 63 andthe shafts 64.

The shaft 63 is provided with a threaded bore 66 which accommodates thethreaded portion of the connecting member 26. The housing 62 is providedwith an extension 67 concentric with the input shaft 63 and whichrotatably accommodates the input shaft 63. The outer end of theextension 67 is provided with a bore 68 of a diameter which issubstantially greater than the diameter of the flange 28 on theconnecting member 26. As can be seen from the drawing, the connectingmember 26 is threaded into the input shaft 63, the outer end of theextension engages the extension 22a of the housing of the it is onlynecessary speed reducer. Engagement of the extension 67 with theextension 22a prevents rotation of the housing 62 as the shaft 63 isrotated. Rotation of the shaft 63 causes rotation of the shafts 64which, in turn, causes rotation of the heaters 69 secured to the shafts64.

When it is desired to remove the beater attachment, it is merelynecessary to rotate the housing 62 in a direction opposite that of thenormal direction of rotation.

It is readily apparent that other attachments can be easily utilizedwith the drive means disclosed. For example, a brush can be providedwith suitable means for mounting on the connecting member 26. Polishingpads, wheels and the like may also be readily secured to the drivemeans.

It is apparentfrom the foregoing that I have provided a new and improveddevice for cleaning, scouring, heating and the like. The device isnormally in an cutofthe-way position but is readily accessible for use.

I claim:

1. In a device of the character described, adapted to be mounted on asink, motive means adapted to be mounted below the sink, a flexiblecable driven by said motive means and adapted to be extended through anopening in the sink, a speed reducing unit having a driving connectionwith the cable and a driven output shaft, said output shaft being insubstantially axial alignment with said driving connection, said speedreducing unit being attached to the cable and adapted to be disposedabove the sink, a rotary attachment, means for detachably securing saidattachment to the output shaft of the speed reducing unit, said speedreducing unit being enclosed in a housing having a diametersubstantiallygreater than the opening in the sink, said housing havingan extending handle portion of substantially less diameter than theopening in the sink and adapted to be received therein, whereby thehousing is adapted to normally rest on the sink with the hand gripextending through the opening but can be pulled with the cable throughthe opening for purposes of using the rotary attachment, and releasablesecuring means aflixed to said cable at a point substantially spacedbelow said opening in the sink when said speed reducing unit is receivedin the opening, whereby when the speed reducing unit is removed from theopening and the device is in use the cable is prevented from droppingthrough the opening by operation of the securing means at the opening.

2. A device as in claim 1 wherein said releasable securing meanscomprises a clamp mounted on said cable, said clamp including a flangeand bowed-out resilient members secured to the flange, the bowed-outresilient members being adapted to extend through and engage the openingin the sink.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,620,591 Braly Mar. 8, 1927 1,710,613 Fristoe Apr. 23, 1929 1,804,715Tafel May 12, 1931 2,047,340 Uyeda July 14, 1936 2,047,841 Van GuilderJuly 14, 1936 2,127,051 Atkinson Aug. 16, 1938 2,173,064 Judell Sept.12, 1939 2,200,503 Judell May 14, 1940 2,311,879 Schultz Feb. 23, 19432,502,239 Wallach Mar. 28, 1950 2,557,534 Cowles June 19, 1951 2,579,393Modrey Dec. 18, 1951 2,657,830 Briggs Nov. 3, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,038Great Britain of 1865 561,169 Great Britain May 8, 1944

